Inter Miami 0-2 Houston Dynamo – US Open Cup final LIVE: Lionel Messi watches his team

Published: 19:00 EDT, 27 September 2023 | Updated: 21:39 EDT, 27 September 2023

Follow Mail Sport’s live blog for all the latest scores, team news and updates as Inter Miami take on Houston Dynamo in the US Open Cup final.

Messi appeared to look concerned for his teammates as he looked on with his wife Antonela and others

The referee has blown the whistle and we head into halftime with the Dynamo leading 2-0

Inter Miami have severly missed Messi tonight as they have been nearly nonexistent in attack. Houtson has outpossessed and outshot Miami by a wide margin throughout the first half.

Miami has in face only recorded one shot throughout the game and it missed the target by a Texsa-sized margin.

Houston first took the lead after Griffin Dorsey blasted a shot past Callender to give Houston the lead in the 24

Hector Herrera followed this up up by converting a penalty kick in the 33 to make the score 2-0.

The fourth official has signaled there will be at least three minutes of stoppage time

Miami’s first shot goes sailing into the stands

After taking over 40 minutes to finally recorded their first shot of the game Benjamin Cremaschi sent the attempt sailing into the fifth row of the crowd.

Miami has their backs against the wall as the half draws to an end

Houston is still applying loads of pressure as the search for a goal in the final 10 minutes of the half.

Goallllllll 2-0 Houston

Hector Herrera converts the penalty to extend Miami’s lead in the 33. He sent the kick down the middle as Callender dove to his right.

Penaltyyyyyy

DeAndre Yedlin dove into a tackle and gave a penalty as he brought down the attacker ahead of him. He was also give a yellow card

Former Houston Rocket James Harden was just seen in attendance

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 27: NBA player James Harden watches the game during the first half of the 2023 U.S. Open Cup Final between the Houston Dynamo FC and Inter Miami CF at DRV PNK Stadium on September 27, 2023 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/USSF/Getty Images for USSF)

Sep 27, 2023; Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA; Houston Dynamo minority owner and NBA player James Harden attends the game between Inter Miami CF and the Houston Dynamo at DRV PNK Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Griffin Dorsey blast a shot past Callender to give Houston the lead in the 24

He was given miles of space as he sprinted into the box before he powered a shot into the top of the net from a tough angle on the right hand side of net.

GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL 1-0 Houston

Callender has pulled off an amazing double save to keep the game tied in the 23

After diving to his left to deflect a shot to the ground he quickly stood up to deflect the rebound attempt from point blank range.

Houston have continued to pepper Miami with shots

Houston are outshooting Miami 7 – 0 in terms of shots. Only one of the shots have landed on target however.

Houston’s Franco Escobar has received the first yellow card of the game

He commited a foul that the refree deemed to be a high challenge

Through the first 10 minutes if play Houston has controlled possession

The Dynamo have not dropped below 55 percent possession as of yet and for an extended period of time held more than 60 percent.

Miami has had three attacks cut out in the first five minutes

On two occasions the defense picked up a clutch defelction and clearnce at the edge of the box, while the third went to waste as an early cross was played long.

Callender has seen his first action in goal

After only two minutes he was forced to pick up a wayward through ball played by Houston

Inter Miami has kicked things off and tonight’s game is officially underway

The players have taken the field and are lined up for the national anthem

Miami’s crowd loudly cheered with excitment as kickoff is only moments away.

We have another siting of an injured Lionel Messi in the building

Professional golfer Sergio Garcia is in attendance for tonight’s game

He appeared on the pregame coverage and breifely interviewed

Despite being out of action Messi is reportedly in the stadium to watch his teammates fight for the trophy

Zinédine Zidane is in the building for tonight’s game and took some to chat with old friend David Beckham

Some pictures of Busquets, ‘Tata’ Martino and other members of a Messi-less Miami team as they walk into the stadium

Here goes a deeper look into Messi’s absence in tonight’s crucial contest

Here’s a full look at the official lineups for tonight’s game as Messi will miss tonight’s game

The good news for Miami Sergio Busquets in the lineup, although Jordi Alba is also absent

Lionel Messi will not play for Miami tonight

Messi is not in the starting lineup nor tonight’s bench due to injury issues. Video emerged of Miami’s squad for tonight walking to the bench and Messi was not one of them. Shortly afterwards the pregame show confirmed his absence.

Miami’s fans are out in numbers for tonight’s game despite the poor weather conditions

Dynamo right back Franco Escobar will be playing against his… tattoo?

Escobar hails from the same town in Argentina as Messi and may have the chance to try and mark his idol on the field tonight

Despite Messi’s status being uncertain, Dynamo head coach Ben Olsen is planning for the Miami magician to take the field

With around an hour and a half until here’s all the last-minute information you’ll need for tonight’s game

Hello and welcome to Daily Mail’s coverage of the US Open Cup final

The world is eagerly awaiting offical word on Lionel Messi’s status for tonight. He has been dealing with a muscle issue causing him to miss time.